Camp Texas Day 3

Hello from Camp TX 2014.  Today was the third day of Camp TX.  Though it was hump day to the rest of the world, it wasn’t here.  We are still climbing the mountain and praying that we don’t reach the hump anytime soon. 

The Morning activity was Camp Olympics, and it went down on the Cho-Yeh field lease; there, the camp rotated through soccer, steal the bacon and dodge ball and each team earned points for each win.  Later, the campers changed into their swim gear and trekked down to the Lake free swim. The campers had a blast playing on the blob as they took turns launching each other into the air before splashing down into the water.  Also on the lake was a 40 feet tarp water slide, a climbing wall that was suspended over the water, an inflated pyramid that swimmers could hop inside or climb all over, and the ever favorite zip line.

The day’s formation theme was “training”, and after watching a short clip from a documentary on the rigors and formation it takes to become a Navy Seal,  the camp was then challenged to embrace the necessary training it will take to become Saints for the Kingdom of God -- to train more intently for the kingdom than what the Navy Seals train to become Navy Seals.  Two counselors provided reflections and formation talks.  The first talk was on reconciliation and the importance of making a good confession.  The other topic was discernment, and it’s main focus was docility to the promptings of the Holy Spirit’s call and how following the promptings of the Spirit leads to your vocation; even though God sometimes leads us places we wish not to be, it is the place God wants us to be – an important theme for students considering where to attend college in the coming years.

We got caught in an afternoon shower on our way to the Cho Dome for some organized sports.  Fortunately, none of us are made of sugar, so we didn’t melt.  Besides, what is rain but liquid sunshine? While at the Cho Dome, we played basketball, half court soccer, and jumped on the bouncing pillow, which Fr. Sullivan has taken to calling the “bouncy bounce.”

After dinner, Fr. Sullivan offered a prayer workshop that consisted of a holy hour and guided meditation for whoever was interested.  The workshop closed with benediction and the processing of the guided meditation.  Some of the campers who were at the prayer workshop shop had the following to say about their experience:

 

·      “I didn’t want to stop praying.”

·       “I have never had an experience like this.”

·      “This was the deepest prayer experience I have ever had.”

·      “I didn’t even realize we had been praying for an hour.

·      “My heart and mind was full of the passion of Christ.”

Those who did not participate in the prayer workshop went on a hike through the surrounding words.  While on the hike, campers were treated to tall tales.  One group even ran across a confederate graveyard.

Tonight’s evening activity was nighttime capture the flag.  Then after night prayer everyone was given the option of sleeping out under the stars.  We are hoping the weather stays good.

Tomorrow begins day 4, and we are just warming up.